Bob, I think his point with this post, and the entire blog, is to dispel the myth that pro-gun folks have that horrible shooting crimes are only committed by career criminals and gang-bangers. The truth is that previously "law-abiding citizens" like this one also commit horrible murders, suicides, and accidents. The prevalence of guns in our society, the lack of waiting periods in most areas, and the ease with which guns kill, make it easy for crimes like this to occur.

There are many causes of violence: domestic abuse, mental illness, poverty, lack of resources, to name a few. Easy access to firearms is also a cause of violence. I choose to work on the latter, assuming and hoping that others are out there working on the former and that combined we will have an impact.

Bob, honestly, I don't think there is a law on the books that could prevent this. Perhaps having a waiting period may have helped, since it was only 5 days from the time she purchased the gun. You can't control for undiagnosed insanity. One might question why she bought the gun in the first place. And if she lashed out so violently this time, chances are she has lashed out in less violent ways in the past -- a warning sign to friends and family that may have been ignored. No law can get them to take action, but personal ethics might.

You admit you can't think of a law that would stop it but you want to pass laws to try to stop it.

Did I understand you correctly?

Personal ethics might get people to take action?

Really, take action on what?The daughter reported --- after the fact -- that the mom hit her.

What public action could have people observed and acted on?

The plain fact is you and Oh Shoot are dancing in the blood of the dead in order to drum up support for gun control laws.

You don't mention Andrea Yates -- the mom with KNOWN mental illness issues.

You don't mention Susan Smith, the mom who 'just snapped' and drowned her kids.

What laws do you propose to stop, prevent or reduce those types of murders?

And while you are talking about laws that may, might have, conceivably if the the moon is in Libra reduce the deaths or injuries; why not talk about how many more rapes would be committed, how many more unarmed people would be murdered, how many more homes would be invaded?

Try as gun controllers will, you can not deny the existence of defensive gun uses. You may -- and do --try to ignore them but they are out there.

Every day people use firearms to protect themselves and their families.

How many people are you willing to be the victims of crimes so that you can lower "gun violence"?

Every criminal was once a law abiding citizen........until they committed a crime.

The entries on this blog involve people who are legally eligible to purchase and possess guns. These are people whom the gun lobby would refer to as "law abiding citizens." It is the contention of the gun lobby that stricter gun laws would only hurt these law abiding citizens.